Nine villages are scrapped from bus route

A BUS company has altered one of its routes meaning it will no longer stop in nine villages.

Arriva’s number eight bus route from Burton to Ashby currently stops in 13 areas in between the two towns, but from April it will only go as far as Church Gresley, meaning that Castle Gresley, Linton, Overseal, Netherseal, Donisthorpe, Oakthorpe and Measham will no longer be served by the route.

The reason for the change, the company said, is because of lack of use by passengers.

Donsithorpe resident Lee Griffiths said the route was regularly used by elderly residents to get to Ashby, and it was the only direct route to the town.

He said: “I use the bus up to three times a week and will be late for my appointments in Coalville.

“I will have to go from Donisthorpe to Swadlincote and wait for another bus for 25 minutes.”

Keith Myatt, from Arriva, told the Mail: “The route is going to be revised.

“We are working closely with Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council and Leicestershire County Council to find alternative services.”

He said there had been a review of services in that area which meant that it would not go beyond Church Gresley, Overseal and Netherseal.

Information was taken from on board data, which showed were people got on and off.

Mr Myatt added: “It could no longer be sustained on a commercial basis as there is not a sufficient number of customers travelling past Church Gresley.

“We will still operate services to the college in Swadlincote and information will be sent to homes.”

He said that the service would operate every 30 minutes which was more frequent than previously.